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The government is stepping up efforts to build a more inclusive cultural landscape by expanding arts and heritage initiatives beyond the capital, officials said, with a focus on engaging young people across the country.
The government's goal is to foster a 'discrimination-free culture' by strengthening activities at district-level arts institutions, moving away from a Dhaka-centric model that has limited broader cultural development.
"We are working to increase youth participation in every district's Shilpakala Academy," said SK Rezauddin Ahmed (Rezauddin Stalin), director general of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.
"This will help preserve and promote our cultural heritage while creating a continuous flow of artistic practice nationwide," he added.
Under a five-year plan, authorities intend to organise a series of national and international events, including regional theatre festivals, film screenings, dance conferences and recitation festivals. Traditional jatra performances and international cultural exchanges are also part of the programme.
A flagship initiative titled 'Pathe Pathe Sur Bhraman' will see boats equipped with mobile recording studios travel along major rivers to collect and preserve local folk songs. The recordings, performed by local artists, will later be shared online.
A parallel project will focus on inland regions, collecting lesser-known or fading songs and reintroducing them through performances by emerging artists.
Officials say the initiatives are aimed at safeguarding the country's rich folk traditions, including songs associated with legendary figures such as Lalon Shah, Hason Raja, Shah Abdul Karim, Jalal Uddin Khan, Bijon Sarkar while making them accessible to younger generations.
The Director General also mentioned plans to honor prominent poets of Bangla literature, including Al Mahmud, Shamsur Rahman, Hasan Hafizur Rahman, Rafique Azad, and Ahsan Habib, along with other legendary figures-both deceased and living.
These initiatives are included in the annual plan, which also features week-long events such as music festivals, film screenings, dance festivals, and international literary conferences.
He said research activities in the arts are relatively limited, but initiatives have been taken to promote research, including studies on the history and culture of potchitra (scroll painting).
Plans also include activities related to film, rickshaw art, and jatra. Work is also ongoing in technology-based new media.
He added that during the recent celebration of Bengali New Year 1433, a five-day colorful program was organized, featuring cultural performances from 28 ethnic groups, as well as Pahela Baishakh processions, dance, music, recitation, and drama involving many young participants. There are plans to continue working with these communities.
He noted that Bangladesh hosts various festivals throughout the year. To promote local culture globally, such cultural activities could be made more tourism-friendly, he said adding that increased tourist participation could make these events more vibrant and enjoyable, contributing to economic growth.
Finally, he emphasized the importance of publicity for any initiative. The media plays a significant role in promoting the activities of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, and greater media engagement will help the institution move forward further, he said.
https://thedailyexpress.news/news/national/1f144555-e8bb-6880-acdd-689739b7efd2